Ad Watch: A closer look at Corbett's ad about Pennsylvania's economy

The November election season is here and Gov. Tom Corbett is the first to hit the airwaves. As part of News 8's Ad Watch coverage, 8 On Your Side government reporter Pete Muntean took a closer look at the ad.

In the ad, Corbett's focus is the state's economy during his first term.

He says: "You can see where businesses have new life - 178,000 private sector jobs in three years."

Since Corbett took office in January 2011, state labor data says private sector jobs have grown by 178,000. However, there are fewer public sector jobs. When you factor that in - it makes 126,000 new jobs, overall.

During his term, Corbett helped shed about 5,000 state workers. His campaign maintains private sector job growth is the best indicator of the state's economic health.

He says: "This is part of what we're doing - bringing people back to Pennsylvania."

During that statement, it's important to pay attention to the graphic. It reads: "Corbett's policies spur economic resurgence."

That statement needs context.

The source is a post on the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association website. The pro-business group is not an unbiased news source like the graphic might lead you to believe.

It's up to you to decide the headline's merit.

In the ad, Corbett also says: "I want to pass to the next generation a Commonwealth that is debt-free. That is better than we found it. That's the vision."

The graphic behind Corbett as he reads this statement is about natural gas drilling. It also needs context.